VCR grumble

[cellio]

Last week, although the VCR made all the right noises and light-blinks, we did not get West Wing. It did its thing for an hour but the search backward for the beginning took seconds and produced only a brief bit of new material before cutting out. I borrowed a tape from a coworker and recorded the episode onto that tape, so the media itself did not seem to be at fault. Since then I recorded another show using that VCR (different tape), so the VCR is not exhibiting a general problem. The programming is just fine.

It happened again this week. WTF?

So I'll see if I can borrow a tape again (sigh), and I'll retire the current tape even though a VCR-to-VCR copy onto it worked fine. (Tape's cheap, but this spoils my sense of orderliness.) And I just had an idea and have programmed another VCR to also record the show, lest it happen a third time.

But I really don't understand the failure mode.

Comments

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

I've seen TV cards you can get that will let you watch TV on your computer. You can even record shows as .mp3s and replay them on your DVD player if you have on that is compatable.

[the-never.livejournal.com]

VCR? That's something like a gramophone or a telegraph, isn't it?

[steven.livejournal.com]

Methinks it may be time for a TiVo. Until recently, I thought a TiVo was ridiculously indulgent, but now I'm starting to see the good in it.

[mbarr.livejournal.com]

If you need help with torrents, AKA downloading the current shows.. email me off list :-)

much easier than worrying about the tivo working, or the vcr dieing, etc.. Or, when they do, you have a backup option, really.

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

It might have been the tape tension. If it is too tight it will auto stop. I've had that happen and then fast forwarding or rewinding the tape will clear up the problem.